I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4251 

To promote the use of resilient energy systems to rebuild infrastructure 

following disasters. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 

Mr. SERRANO (for himself, Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N of Puerto Rico, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. GUTIE ́RREZ, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. ESPAILLAT, 

Mr. SOTO, and Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To promote the use of resilient energy systems to rebuild 

infrastructure following disasters. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rebuilding Resilient 

5 Energy Systems Act of 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) EFFICIENT.—The term ‘‘efficient’’ means, 

2 with respect to a technology, product, material, 

3 equipment, or practice, the use of the technology, 

4 product, material, equipment, or practice in a man5 ner that results in reduced energy consumption or 

6 energy costs for the same level of service or a higher 

7 level of service. 

8 (2) RESILIENT.—The term ‘‘resilient’’ means, 

9 with respect to a system or a component of a sys10 tem, the ability of the system or component to adapt 

11 to a changing condition and withstand and rapidly 

12 recover from a disruption. 

13 SEC. 3. USE OF RESILIENT ENERGY SYSTEMS TO REBUILD 

14 FOLLOWING DISASTERS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi16 sion of law, any amounts awarded under sections 403, 

17 404, 406, 408, and 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

18 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 

19 5170c, 5172, 5174, 5189f) may be used to build, repair, 

20 restore, reconstruct, or replace an energy system or build21 ing as a result of a major disaster or emergency des22 ignated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford 

23 Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

24 5121 et seq.) during calendar year 2017 in a manner 

25 that— 


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1 (1) is more resilient; 

2 (2) is more efficient; 

3 (3) provides continuous flow of power to facili4 ties critical to public health, safety, and welfare; 

5 (4) maximizes the use of clean energy resources 

6 and energy storage technologies; and 

7 (5) promotes lower energy bills to the extent 

8 feasible. 

9 (b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in sub10 section (a) creates eligibility for assistance for any energy 

11 provider that is not otherwise eligible for assistance under 

12 the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As13 sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

14 (c) COORDINATION WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 

16 Federal Emergency Management Agency shall des17 ignate a representative of the Agency to coordinate 

18 with one or more private entities that are interested 

19 in donating energy system technologies and services 

20 to rebuild in accordance with subsection (a) fol21 lowing a major disaster or emergency. 

22 (2) COORDINATION AMONG AGENCIES.—In car23 rying out paragraph (1), the Administrator of the 

24 Federal Emergency Management Agency is encourVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:07 Nov 05, 2017 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4251.IH H4251

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1 aged to coordinate with the Secretary of Energy and 

2 the Secretary of Homeland Security. 

3 (d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

5 the date of enactment of this Act, each National 

6 Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy 

7 Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), in coordina8 tion with the programs of the Department of Energy 

9 that provide assistance to States and industry, shall 

10 make technical assistance available to Federal, 

11 State, and local agencies and private entities that 

12 are interested in— 

13 (A) developing plans or providing guidance 

14 on the design of a resilient and efficient energy 

15 system or building; and 

16 (B) building, repairing, restoring, recon17 structing, or replacing an energy system or 

18 building in accordance with subsection (a) fol19 lowing a major disaster or emergency. 

20 (2) CONSULTATION AMONG AGENCIES.—The 

21 Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage22 ment Agency is encouraged to consult with the Sec23 retary of Defense regarding the experience of the 


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1 Department of Defense in building resilient power 

2 systems. 

Æ 


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